Desmond is plotting for Celtic to become a wanted manager as the Premier League battle begins
Celtic will battle a host of Premier League clubs to sign the recently sacked manager, according to reports.
Thomas Frank backs Celtic’s ‘ambitious’ bid
Football FanCast sources revealed last week that former Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is a target for Celtic, and journalist Pete O’Rourke has now added fuel to the fire.
Football Insider says Frank is ‘ambitious’ for the Boys, and Dermot Desmond will battle a number of Premier League clubs for his signature.
“Tomas Frank will be closely watched by Celtic as they search for a new manager.
“Obviously he is free and available now, as he left Tottenham after disappointing this season.
“Let’s see if Celtic can convince Frank to move there this summer.
“I would say that they may not be able to reach them right now because of the competition that may have included the services of Thomas Frank.”
Frank left Tottenham with just seven wins from 26 top-flight games this season, but the Dane’s record at Brentford – a club often forced to sell their best players – was excellent, winning promotion and cementing them as a Premier League side.
Thomas Frank basic information
|
Full name |
Thomas Frank |
|
He was born |
9 October 1973 (age 52) |
|
Ethnicity |
Danish |
|
Education |
BA in Physical Education, Copenhagen Institute of Sports Medicine (1999); Sport Psychology and Coaching Leadership (2002-05) |
|
Playing a job |
Novice midfielder at Frederiksværk; short work before moving on to training |
Thomas Frank training career
|
1995–2013 |
Youth training (Frederiksværk u8s; many Danish youth teams) |
|
2013–2016 |
Head coach, Brøndby IF (Danish Superliga) |
|
December 2016–Oct 2018 |
Assistant coach of Brentford FC |
|
October 2018–June 2025 |
Coach of Brentford FC |
|
June 2025–Feb 2026 |
Tottenham Hotspur coach (sacked) |
Important achievements of Thomas Frank
|
2020–21 |
He led Brentford to promotion to the Premier League |
|
2021–22 |
Brentford 13; Danish FA Coach of the Year Award |
|
2022–23 |
Brentford 9th; their highest ever Premier League finish |
|
2023–24 |
Brentford 16; despite 21 injuries and the suspension of Ivan Toney |
|
2024–25 |
Brentford 10; Frank was named Premier League Manager of the season |
Thomas Frank’s management style
|
Formation |
Mainly a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 block, adapted to the opposition |
|
Press |
High pressure, aggressive, risk taking in management |
|
Possession |
A direct, direct attack on the patient’s constitution |
|
Budget |
It is famous for extracting maximum value from limited resources |
|
Development |
Strong record of player development |
|
Tradition |
High emphasis on team unity, work ethic and collective identity |
|
The data |
Worked closely with Brentford’s data-driven recruitment model under Matthew Benham |
The next Celtic coach has been handed three new contracts
Martin O’Neill believes any new Celtic manager would be happy with the triple contract extension he presided over this week.
Veteran winger James Forrest signed a new contract on Thursday, keeping the 34-year-old until the end of next season.
The Parkhead club announced on Friday that Ireland defender Liam Scales has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2030, with Celtic having the option of a further year.
Then midway through the press conference ahead of William Hill’s Premiership game against Falkirk at Parkhead on Saturday, news broke that midfielder Luke McCowan had signed a new deal until 2028, with Celtic taking up the option of a further year.
Asked whether it would be better to allow any new manager to look at players first before new contracts are handed out, O’Neill said: “I think that’s a very good point you’ve made.
“I think that when the new manager arrives, one; he can accept that he will definitely want these players. Two, are they ready enough to do the job? Yes.
“Three; are they ready to do the work?”
Celtic are eyeing a summer move for the Motherwell player who won the league’s best title
He was selected as the best player in the Premiership.
“Let’s say Liam Scales, he’s 27, 28 years old, his contract is up at the minute, I think you’d like to do something about it now.
“We all know Liam Scales can do it so I don’t think my presence here or anything will make a big difference.
“I think he’s good enough to play for a football club. He’s good enough to improve as time goes on. That’s how I would see it and more importantly, I think that’s how the club sees it.
“I’m happy for Liam and the team.
“He has definitely shown himself this season, I don’t know how he was before I joined, but in the two times I played here he stood out, he deserved the contract in front of him.
“James, in that sense, really speaks for himself, for what he has done.
“He was good here, he was a great player. It doesn’t matter who is going to be the manager, he worked under a big price. And I’m sure he will please whoever comes in at the end of it all that one, what’s that phrase – a no-brainer?
“I think that whoever comes in will be happy to work with those players.
“Luck did very well for us. He would like to start more games if he could. But he played very well.”
